red to give each other entertainment, before
ever they had conference: he asked her good will with his eyes; she did
_suffragari_, and gave consent with a pleasant look. That [4976]Thracian
Rodophe was so excellent at this dumb rhetoric, "that if she had but looked
upon any one almost" (saith Calisiris) "she would have bewitched him, and
he could not possibly escape it." For as [4977]Salvianus observes, "the
eyes are the windows of our souls, by which as so many channels, all
dishonest concupiscence gets into our hearts." They reveal our thoughts,
and as they say, _frons animi index_, but the eye of the countenance,
[4978]_Quid procacibus intuere ocellis_? &c. I may say the same of smiling,
gait, nakedness of parts, plausible gestures, &c. To laugh is the proper
passion of a man, an ordinary thing to smile; but those counterfeit,
composed, affected, artificial and reciprocal, those counter-smiles are the
dumb shows and prognostics of greater matters, which they most part use, to
inveigle and deceive; though many fond lovers again are so frequently
mistaken, and led into a fool's paradise. For if they see but a fair maid
laugh, or show a pleasant countenance, use some gracious words or gestures,
they apply it all to themselves, as done in their favour; sure she loves
them, she is willing, coming, &c.

"Stultus quando videt quod pulchra puellula ridet,
Tum fatuus credit se quod amare velit:"

"When a fool sees a fair maid for to smile,
He thinks she loves him, 'tis but to beguile."

They make an art of it, as the poet telleth us,

[4979] "Quis credat? discunt etiam ridere puellae,
Quaeritur atque illis hac quoque parte decor."

"Who can believe? to laugh maids make an art,
And seek a pleasant grace to that same part."

And 'tis as great an enticement as any of the rest,

[4980] ------"subrisit molle puella,
Cor tibi rite salit."

"She makes thine heart leap with [4981]a pleasing gentle smile of hers."

[4982] "Dulce ridentem Lalagen amabo,
Dulce loquentem,"

"I love Lalage as much for smiling, as for discoursing," _delectata illa
risit tam blandum_, as he said in Petronius of his mistress, being well
pleased, she gave so sweet a smile. It won Ismenias, as he [4983]
confesseth, _Ismene subrisit amatorium_, Ismene smiled so lovingly the
second time I saw her, that I could not choose but admire her: and Galla's
sweet smile quite overcame [4984]